Phonograph apparatus



March 17, 1936.

M. H. LOUGHRIDGE 2,034,105 PHONOGRAPH APPARATUS 4 sheets sn'eet :s

driginal Filed June 15, 1928 Patented Mar. 17, 1936 PHONOGRAPH APPARATUS Matthew H. Lcughridge, Bogota, N. .F.

Continuation of application Serial No. 285,?24, June 15, 1928. This application November 28, 1928, Serial No. 322,534

56 Claims.

a plurality of turntables in synchronism from a' driving shaft, means for disconnecting any tumtable from the driving shaft, means for starting the turntable and accelerating its speed before it is connected with the driving shaft and means whereby the turntable is brought into engagement with the driving shaft with a cushioned engagement. feeding mechanism with a sliding carriage in which is embodied an electric responsive device for controlling the operation of the machine, also.

a mechanism controlled by a micrometer adjustment for starting the stylus at the proper groove in the record and for stopping the stylus when the a record is completed and starting the feed mechanism of a following record. The mechanism further includes means for adjusting the speed at which the turntable may be driven by the driving shaft, means for preventing the stylus from recording sound until it is in engagement with the record groove, means for manually resetting the feed mechanism on each turntable simultaneously and means for automatically resetting the feed mechanism. Other objects of the invention are described indetail in the following specification and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, selected to show a preferred form of my invention.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a phonograph mechanism constructed according to this invention, Fig. 2 is a rear elevation corresponding to Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view, partly in section of one turntable mechanism, Fig. 4 is an elevation corresponding to Fig. 3, Fig. 5 is a detail, partly sectioned, looking towards the right in Fig. 3, and Fig. 6 is a detail of the self-starting gear. Fig. 6a is a detail showing the ratchet mounting for the. turntable drive.

Fig. 7 is an elevation of the feeding mechanism and Fig. 8 is a side elevation of a modified form of the feeding mechanism, Fig. 9 is a detail showing the transverse adjustment of the stylus head and Fig. 10 is a view. partly sectioned, showing the friction drive for the turntables.

Fig. 11 is a controlling circuit from the magnetic pick-up of the turntables, through an am- The mechanism further includes a' plifier to a loud speaker, Fig. 12 is a controlling circuit used when records are to be repeated in continuation and Fig. 13 is a circuit that may be used when records are selectively played.

This invention is a continuation of my co-pending application, Serial No. 235,724, filed June 15, 1928, now Patent 1,877,625, dated September 13,

1932, also the corresponding British Patent- This invention comprises a pair of standards supporting a plurality of turntable brackets spaced one above the other and a vertical driving shaft with friction wheels arranged to engage the edges of the turntables whereby the latter are driven in synchronism and a. feeding mechanism driven from the driving shaft operates the stylus across the turntable, which, through a magnetic pick-up and suitable amplifying means plays the record. When the machine is used as a recording outfit to make duplicates from a master, the master record is placed upon one of the turntables and the records to be inscribed are placed upon the other turntables. The feeding mecha-, nism for each record is simultaneously operated and by suitably connecting the magnetic pick-up of the master record with the magnetic recording heads of the duplicates, through an amplifying circuit, duplicates of the master record are easily and quickly produced. When the machine is used for playing in continuation, a series of records which may be a continuation of the same subject, or may be individual records, the electric-control of the feeding mechanism is used to insure that only one record may be played at a time and to insure that the records will start playing at the proper time and end at the proper time. For this purpose a micrometer adjustment is associated with the feed mechanism which enables the stylus to be set for the starting groove in various sized records and changes the controlling circuits when the record is finished so that the following record may be started at the proper instant to produce a continuation of the subject. When the records are synchronized with another device, such, for example as a motion picture projector, it may be necessary that the stylus be brought into action with reference to the angular position of the turntable so that the sound may be started, say within sixty degrees of movement of the record groove and for this purpose a circuit is controlled by the turntable affecting the feedmecha-nism. When records ,are to be played selectively, as in a coin controlled machine, a selector switch is provided whereby the desired feed mechanisms may be not only carries the stylus across the record when playing but automatically restores the stylus to the starting position when the record has been played.

The stylus head is automatically raised from engagement with the record by the feed mechanism. When this mechanism is disengaged from the feed screw the stylus head is raised through a lost motion connection and held free of the record. A circuit is controlled by the preliminary movement of this mechanism as it is disengaged from the feed screw which interrupts the circuit of the stylus head and thereby avoids the click which usually accompanies the placing and removal of the stylus head on the record.

As the machine consists of a number of turntables which may be rotated in synchronism, it is desirable to be able to disconnect any turntable from the driving mechanism so that records thereon may be changed without stopping the operation of the machine. It is also necessary that after a turntable is stopped, it may be connected to the drive without disturbing or varying the speed of the driving mechanism. For this purpose the turntable is mounted on a swinging arm which is, by the tension of a spring, moved to the position to bring the turntable into engagement with the driving wheel. This spring operates through a dash pot controlled by air escaping from a restricted orifice so that the initial engagement between the turntable and the drive is controlled by an air cushion. The stem of the tumtable is provided with a gear which meshes with a fixed arm as the turntable is moved towards the driving position. This gives the turntable an initial impetus and operates as a self starting mechanism which speeds up the turntable in the same direction in which it is driven so that it engages the driving wheel at a speed that is approximately in synchronism therewith and immediately resumes synchronous speed without introducing any retarding effect on the driving mechanism. The additional load of rotating a turntable brought into circuit in this way is applied with a graduated action through the spring and dash pot. The self-starting gear on the stem of the turntable is mounted on a ratchet so that it does not affect the movement of the turntable when the latter is released from the driving mechanism.

The change-over from one record to the follow- I ing record is effected through the feed mechanism which co-operatively connects to the feed screw. and brings the stylus into engagement with the record. This may be adjusted so that the last groove of one, record is played at the same time as the first groove of the following record. The machine may be used in the same way for recording a subject continued from one record to another.

In the drawings I l isrthe base casting which supports the pipe standards I3 and I4 and the motor I2. The vertical drive shaft l5 connects by the worm wheel l6 and worm I! with the motor l2 and is constantly rotated by the motor, preferably at a regulated speed. Turntable brackets l8 are secured to the pipe standards l3 and I4 and any number may be arranged in vertical tiers as at A, B, and C. At each turntable bracket the shaft 15 is provided with a friction wheel is which normally engages the edge of the turntable 20 and thus the turntable on each bracket is rotated by the motor l2.

The bracket is developed into a horizontal arm 2,034,105 brought into operation. This feed mechanism- 2| which terminates in the jaw 22-23, Fig. 5 and to this jaw the swinging arm 24 is pivoted at 25. This swinging arm supports the turntable, the stem of which is indicated at 26. A projection 21 extends as shown, from the lower member 24 of the swinging arm and is pivotally connected with the plunger 28 which terminates in the piston 29 in cylinder 38. The coil spring 3| normally projects 28 until the turntable engages the friction wheel IS in the position indicated by a and maintains a constant pressure between the turntable and the friction wheel. The piston 29 acts as a dash pot to secure a graduated engagement between the turntable and friction drive as the air escapes from the cylinder 38 through an orifice regulated by screw 32. A cam 33, pivoted at 34 and operated by handle 35 engages projection 21 and moves the turntable to the position b by swinging 24 to the position 0. The turntable is thus disconnected from the drive, or is connected to the drive as,

desired by manipulating handle 35. It is apparent thatresults corresponding to the swinging arm 24 can be obtained by a variety of equivalents.

The stem of the turntable 26 is provided with the spur gear 38 which meshes with the gear teeth 31 in the extended portion 36 of jaw 22 as the arm 24 is swung into and out of the engaging position. It will be noted that in each of the extreme positions of arm 24, the gear 38 is clear of 31 and rotates free thereof. As arm 24 is swung to the right to bring the tumtable' to position a the stem 26 is rotated by the engagement of gear 38 with the fixed part 36. This starts the turntable and causes it to rotate at a speed which can be regulated by the dash pot and may be made to approximate the corre-.

position b, the ratchet is released and the turntable is not rotated thereby. The central part of gear 36 is mounted on and rotates with the turntable stem 26. In the figure, parts of the cover are removed to showthe ball ratchet. This ratchet construction is necessary as without it the gear 38 would tend to rotate the turntable in the opposite direction to the driven direction as it is moved to the released position.

It .will be observed from Fig. 5 that underneath the turntable 20 the disc 40 is mounted on stem 26 through the insulation 4| so that it rotates with but is electrically insulated from the turntable. A bracket 43 is secured to arm 24 and supports the insulatedcontact fingers 42 which engage the edge of disc 40 and thus controls a circuit by the rotation of the turntable as hereinafter described.

The feeding mechanism is used to feed the stylus across the record. It comprises the feed screw 53 mounted in the supports 54 and 55 and ca ying the spiral gear 52 which meshes with gear 5| on the drive shaft l5. By this arrangement the feed screw is continuously rotated when the machine is running. A sliding bar 56, parallel to the feed screw 53 is mounted on the supports 58 and. 58. This bar is non-turning and is splined at 51. A carriage 60 is mounted on this bar that can slide freely on the bar but engages the spline 51 so that it isnon-turning. Rigidly mounted on 60 is the carriage head GI which supports the electro-magnet 6i. Loosely mounted on 60 is the feed arm 63 which, by gravity in the construction in Fig. 7, engages the feed screw 53 and is provided with the armature 68 so that when magnet 61 is energized the feed arm 83 is raised and disengaged from the feed screw and the feeding mechanism is thereby rendered inoperative. When 61 is deenergized the feed arm resumes its engagement with the feed screw and the feeding mechanism becomes operative.

Loosely mounted for rotation on carriage 60 is the stylus arm 64 which supports the rod 65 and the stylus head 66. Thus the stylus head by gravity engages the turntable record and is moved transversely over the turntable as the carriage 60 is moved by the feed arm on the slide 56.

It is necessary that the stylus be raised from the record when the feeding mechanism is inoperative. For this purpose a lug is formed integral with the feed arm at 69, Fig. '7 which is linked at Hi to the lever II pivoted at 12 to the carriage 6i and connected by rod I3 and pivot 14 with the stylus arm 68. The connections are so arranged that by raising 03 the stylus head is raised from the record and by lowering 63 the stylus is lowered to engage the record. It will be observed that the lost motion in link 78 permits the stylus arm to be raised independently of the movement of $3.

It is desirable that the stylus head be raised from the record when the turntable is moved out of engagement with the driving mechanism and automatic means are provided for this purpose comprising the rod 11 passing below 65 and supported by arms I5 and I6 pivotally mounted on bar 56. This rod connects by I8, Fig. 4, with crank 19 and by connection 80 with the crank 8I on the end of handle 35, Fig. .5. Thus, as

head 83 and having a dog at 86 which engagesthe projection 81 of the feed arm. The head 83 is hinged at 84 to the bracket 82 which is clamped to the standard I3. The vertical rod 08 connects the horizontal rods 85 as shown so that an upward movement of this rod raises all the heads 83, rods 85 and feed arms 63 and an outward movement of 08 restores all the feeding mechanisms to the starting position.

It will be noted that by raising rod 88 all the feed mechanisms are simultaneously disconnected and by lowering this rod they are simultaneously placed in condition for operation. When the feeding mechanisms are restored to the starting position the rods 85 are restored to the position indicated in Fig. 3 so as not to interfere with the normal operation of the mechanism.

The feeding mechanism in Fig. 8 is substantially similar to the mechanism in Fig. 7 with similar parts correspondingly referenced. This arrangement, however, is modified to bring the a feeding mechanism into operation when the magnet 01a is energized instead of when this magnet is deenergized. It will be noted that the feed arm 63a engages the underside of feed screw 53 and is held in engagement therewith as long as armature 68 is attracted by magnet 61a. When magnet 57a is deenergized the feed arm 63a by gravity, engages reverse screw I06 which is geared to screw 53 by spur gears I01 and I08. The result therefore is to feed the stylus across the turntable when magnet 61a is energized and to raise the stylus from the turntable and return the feed mechanism to the starting position when magnet 61a is deenergized. It will be noted that the link T0 connects to lever II on the opposite side of pivot I2 from the construction in Fig. '7 to insure the lifting of the stylus head when the feed arm is disengaged from the feed screw.

In the centre of carriage 60 is a non-turning member 62, Fig. 3, which is keyed to carriage 60 and is used to support the circuit controller 6211, Figs. 7 and 8, which is operated by the movement of the feed arm in response to magnet 01. The

long contact springs of 62a and 62b are con-- nected with 63 by a block of insulation as shown and move therewith to .establish circuit connections as indicated in Fig. 11, after the stylus head is in engagement with the record. Also a circuit controller I38, Fig. 3 is provided to interrupt a circuit by engagement with carriage ti on the return of the feed mechanism to the starting position, as hereinafter described.

Phonograph records usually vary in size so that the sound grooves end at various positionsof the feed mechanism and it is desirable to disconnect the, feed mechanism and raise the stylus from the record when the last sound groove has been reproduced. For this purpose a mechanism controlling the circuit of magnet 61 is provided and operated by the feed mechanism through a micrometer adjustment which can be adjusted -with precision to control the operation of the feed mechanism and the. o eration of the feed mechanism for the following record, at any predetermined position desired.

The support 03 is rigidly mounted on bar 50 and has the lever 9c pivoted thereto at 95 and biased to move in a predetermined direction by spring 90. The plunger M is engaged by carriage I30 and is adjustably connected by the screw with stem $12 which slides in 93 and engages lever 9!! to move it in opposition to spring 98. The arm .91 supports the contact plate 99 through the pivot 90. The contact plate carries the insulated stop screws I00 and IOI between which the contact member I02 moves in response to plunger 9| and spring 96. In operation, the stylus is placed at theend of the sound groove .of the .record and plunger 9| is then adjusted to engage the carriage so that the continued movement of the carriage moves the contact I02 out of engagement with screw I00 and into engagement with screw I 0 I. A fine adjustment may be obtained in the position of these contacts relative to I02 by the screw I03 engaging the projection I04 of the plate 09 and moving it on its pivot 98 against the fiat spring I05. By. this arrangement the feed mechanism may be disconnected in less than one turn of the turntable.

It is necessary in some cases to be able to ad:- just the position of the stylus relative to the starting groove of the record independently of the feed mechanism. For this purpose the construction in Fig. 9 may be used. The supporting rod is pivoted at 48 to swing horizontally in the arm 84 and has a projection 46 engaging spring 45 on one side and opposed by the adjusting screw 41 on the other side. By operating screw 41 the position of the stylus is adjusted independently ally over the record, in the usual construction it is pivoted and balanced and moves on its pivot with the stylus head. In this apparatus, the tumtables are maintained in continuous rotation and the records on the turntables are prevented from playing by holding the stylus head released from the sound grooves of the record and the feeding action of these sound grooves. The feeding mechanism, as herein referred to and except when associated with structural limitations, includes the feeding by the spiral sound grooves as well as the feed screw arrangement of the drawings.

A friction drive is preferred in the present machine for operating the turntables and where absolute synchronism is desired it is necessary'that adjustment be provided in the drive ratio. One way of securing this result is illustrated in Fig. 10 in which the drive shaft I5 is threaded and splined at III. The friction wheel I9 is secured between a pair of plates H2 and H3 which slide on the threaded shaft but engage the spline II I making a' non-turning engagement with the shaft I5. This construction is held in place by the clamping nuts I I4. It will be noticed that the wheel I 5 is conical in shape and the turntable 20 is correspondingly coned in the reverse direction as indicated at II 5 so that the engaging circumference of these members can be adjusted by adjusting the position of I9 on the shaft I5. This enables the drive ratio between I9 and 20 to be adjusted with precision.

It will be noted that the gear wheel I 9a is larger in diameter than I9 so that turntable 20a rotates at a higher speed than turntable 20. This has a certain advantage in duplicating work where the master record may be run at a higher speed than the duplicates. This has the effect of con densing the sound grooves on the duplicates which can be reproduced at a correspondingly lower speed and a small record has the same eifective area as a large record. This arrangement is highly practical with metallic records.

Another modified form of drive is shown in Fig. 10 which varies the speed of one turntable relative to another. The friction wheel I 9b is comparatively wide and cone shaped to engage turntable 20b. Wheel I9b slides in spline III and is moved by bar "I sliding in guides I12 and engaging the wheel between collars III-4a. By moving bar I15, the cams I13-I14 are rotated on bearings I16 to lift bar I'll against spring I11 and thus change the speed of turntable 20b as desired.

Fig. 11 illustrates one arrangement of circuits that may be used to control the electric reproducers so that one reproducer will be operative at a time. The stylus heads 56 for the turntables A, B and C are connected, by wire I23 with the amplifier I 2I and each of these heads is connected by wires I24 with the circuit controllers 52a and from these circuit controllers by wire I25 to amplifier I2 I. The (umamic current produced by the movement of the stylus on the record is amplified by I 2| and reproduced through the loud speaker I22. The circuit controller 62a is operated by the feed arm 63 closing the circuit only when the feed arm is in engagement with the feed screw. The circuit of the stylus head is thus disconnected except when the stylus is actually engaging the sound groove of the record, and as this circuit is open during the preliminary movemen of the stylus head on the record no false sound can be transmitted by the engagement of the stylus with the record.

The controlling circuits in Fig. 12 are used where records are to be played, one succeeding the other on each of the turntables and, if desired, after the series of records have been played, the machine will automatically start with the first record, after the last one is completed and repeat the records in series indefinitely. The circuit arrangement for each turntable A, B and C are similar and, as shown, the record on turntable B is being. played as the magnet 61 for this turntable is deenergized while the magnets 61 for each of turntables A and B are energized and therefore the mechanism is inoperative.

Magnet 61 is energized from battery I26 by switch I26a and wire I28, also by wire I30, wire I32, contact finger I33 of relay I35 in the energized position andwire I21 to battery. After magnet 61 is energized a holding circuit is established through contact 62b closed by the feed arm 63 in the raised position, through wire I29 and contacts 42 engaging the disc 40 and wire I21 to battery. The disc 40 may be provided with a non-conducting segment I 3| which interrupts the circuit between the contacts 42 for each revolution of the turntable.

By this circuit it will be noted that if magnet 61 is energized it remains energized until the turntable is in the predetermined position to interrupt the circuit at 42. Another holding circuit is provided on wire I29 through contact I00 and contact finger I02 to the battery wire I21. In this case contact finger I02 is controlled by the carriage of the preceding turntable so that until this carriage reaches its final position, magnet 61 of the following turntable is held energized. On the other hand, when the preceding carriage has completed its movement, the finger I02 changes position opening the circuit of magnet 61 of the following turntable which is deenergized as soon as the circuit is interrupted at 42 and following this a circuit is established from wire I21, through I02 to contact IN and wire 134 to relay I35 and by wire I28 to battery I26.

gized remains energized until the feed .mechanism is restored to the starting position where the carriage opens the circuit controller I38 and deenergizes I35 and opens the controlling circuit of 61 at I33. A switch I31a may be provided for manually deenergizing relay I35 without restoring the feed mechanism to the starting position. The energizing circuit of magnet 61 on wire I30 and the energizing circuit of relay I 35 on wire I 34, is known as the pick up circuit of these magnets. The circuit of the magnets controlled by their own armatures is known as the stick or holding circuit.

In operation it will be noted that the contact finger I02 for turntable A has just been moved to the reverse position by the completed movement of the carriage and that carriage for turntable B is at the starting position with contact I38 open and relay I35-deenergized. This causes the deenergization of 61 for turntable B as soon as the circuit is interrupted at 42 and relay I35 for turntable A is energized, energizing magnet G'Ifor this turntable which remains energized until the carriage is returned to the starting position to open the circuit at I38, and until switch I02 of the preceding turntable is reversed.

The magnet .61 for turntable C is held energized through contact finger I02 for turntable B connecting wire I29 to battery wire I21. If switch I262; is closed it will be noted that magnet 61 for turntable A will be maintained energized through wire I29, I29a, switch I26b, and contact finger I02 to battery wire I21. This arrangement insures that magnet 61, after it is energized at the completion of the movement of the carriage, is held energized until the proceeding carriage has completed its movement and set up the conditions for the operation of the following record. By closing switch I261) it will be noted that after the last turntable C has completed a movement of its carriage, the conditions are set up to start the turntable A again and thus repeat the series again. It should be observed that when the holding circuit of magnet 61 is opened at 62b this magnet cannot be again energized on wire I29 and restoring the normal position of contact finger I02 by spring 96 does not affect magnet 61 until it is again energized by relay I35 being energized.

In the arrangement described the carriage may be manually restored to the starting position as the records on the turntables are changed, or the carriage may be automatically restored by any of the arrangements used for this purpose.

In Fig. 13 a repeating and selective control is provided. The magnets 61a for each of the tumtables cause the feed arm to engage the feed screw when these magnets are energized and to engage the return screw when these magnets are deenergized, as in Fig. 8. The main switch I42 closes the circuit from battery I4l through wires I43 and I44 to motor I2 and also closes the circuit to the selector I45. When the selector is in one position the circuit is closed from the battery I4I through switch I42, selector contact arm I55, wire I46. magnet 61a of turntable A and wire I43 to battery. When the selector is moved to another position, a circuit is established from I55 on wire I41 to magnet 61a for turntable B and when the selector is moved to another position a circuit is established on wire I48 for magnet 61a for turntable C.

The selector I45 may be manually operated from some remote point to play any selected record. It may also be operated automatically to bring the controlling arm I55 progressively into circuit with each of the controlling magnets 61a to play the entire series of records and to repeat the series as long as desired. For this purpose the selector arm I55 is stepped around by the magnet II operating the detent I52 engaging the ratchet wheel I54 and producing one step each time magnet I5I. is energized. Magnet I5I is controlled by battery I4I, wire I M a, wire I66 and contact segment I65. Circuit controllers I38a are provided to be closed by the feed mechanism in its final movement for each of the respective turntables.

When I38a for turntable A is closed,- a circuit is established from battery wire I43 by wire IN to a contact in line with the insulated contact plate I64 carriedby arm I55 to bridge this contact with I65 and thus energize the selector magnet I5I causing it to make one step of I54 thereby deenergizing magnet 61a for the last turntable played and energizing magnet 61a for the next turntable. When the feed mechanism of this turntable completes its movement circuit controller I38a for this turntable establishes a circuit on wire I62 which, at this time, connects to I5I and again steps the selector around to play the next record. When the feed mechanism of this turntable in turn, completes its movement, a circuit is established on wire I63 which new connects to magnet I5I thereby changing the selector to play the next record, and so on for any number of turntables. As the feed screws are continuously rotating it will be noted that each feed mechanism is automatically restored to the starting position as soon as magnet 61a is deenergized.

It will be observed in Fig. '12 when switch I26a is opened, all the controlling magnets 61 are deenergized and the feed mechanisms all operate simultaneously which is necessary for duplicating work. In Fig. 13 the same result obtains when all the magnets 61a are energized.

The bevel gear 44 is provided on shaft I5 for connecting with a synchronizer which is not part of the present invention.

It isapparent that this invention may be con-' structed in a variety of forms embodying the principles herein disclosed without departing from the intent and spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: 1. In a phonograph, the combination, a driving shaft, a turntable, means for moving said turntable in one direction into frictional engagement with said driving shaft and for disengaging 'said turntable and drive shaft when moved in starting said turntable by the movement of said swinging arm in the direction in which said connection is made. v

3. In a phonograph, the combination, a driving shaft, a turntable having a stem with a gear thereon, means for moving said turntable to connect and disconnect with said driving shaft and means engaging with said gear to start said tumtable before engaging with said driving shaft, said gear having a ratchet connection with said stem.

4. In a phonograph, the combination, a driving shaft, aturntable, means for connecting said turntable with said driving shaft by friction and a spring and dash pot for controlling said connection.

5. In a phonograph, the combination, a driving shaft, a swinging arm, a turntable mounted on said swinging arm to swing in one direction into the operating position and in the reverse direction to swing out of the operating position, means including said swinging arm for connecting said turntable with said driving shaft by friction, means for starting said turntable before said connection is made and for releasing said turntable from the starting means when swung out of the operating position.

6. In a phonograph, the combination, a driving shaft, a turntable mounted on a swinging arm, means including said swinging arm for connecting said turntable with said driving shaft by friction and means for cushioning said connection.

'7. In a phonograph, the combination, a driving shaft, a turntable, means for connecting and disconnecting said shaft and turntable, a stylus head connected with an arm arranged to engage a record on said turntable, a carriage for moving said arm transversely of the. record and means for co-operatively controlling the connection between said stylus and the record and said turntable and the driving shaft whereby said stylus head and arm are. automatically held clear of the record when the connection and disconnection between said shaft and turntable is beingmade.

8. In a phonograph, the combination, a tumtable, a driving shaft, a friction wheel splined on said driving shaft having a conical periphery engaging said turntable and means for moving said friction wheel on the .spline to vary the speed of said turntable.

9. In a phonograph, the combination, a'tum table, a stylus arm and a feed mechanism for feeding said stylus arm across the turntable, means having a. lost motion engagement connecting said feed mechanism and stylus arm and saidfeed mechanism comprising a sliding carriage and a magnet embodied in said carriage for raising said stylus from the turntable.

10. In a. phonograph, the combination, a turntable and a feed mechanism comprising a sliding carriage, an arm pivotally connected to said carriage and supporting a stylus in engagement with a record'on said turntable and means for adjusting the position of said arm horizontally on its pivot to adjust the position of the stylus relative to the sound groove of the record.

11. In a phonograph, the combination, a plurality of turntables placed one above the other, ashaft for driving said turntables, a record on each turntable, an independent feed mechanism electrically controlled associated with each of said turntables and means adjustable relative to the sound grooves of one turntable record for bringing into operation the feed mechanism of another of said turntables.

12. In a phonograph, the combination, three or more turntables supporting records placed one above the other, a -shaft for driving said turntables, an independent feed mechanism electrically controlled, associated with each of said turntables and means associated with each of said feed mechanisms adjustable relative to the sound grooves on said records for electrically controlling said mechanisms whereby the records on said turntables are automatically played in succession one after the other.

13. In a phonograph, the combination, a driving shaft, a turntable, a swinging arm carrying said turntable into operative engagement with said driving shaft, a spring for holding said turntable and shaft in engagement and a cam for operating said swinging arm.

14. In a phonograph, the combination, a driving shaft having a friction wheel thereon, a turntable engaging'said wheel and driven by frictional engagement therewith and a pair of cams for changing the frictional engagement for varying the speed of said drive without stopping the turntable.

15. In a phonograph, the combination, a driving shaft having a conical friction wheel thereon, a turntable engaging said wheel and driven by frictional engagement therewith and a pair of cams for adjusting the position of said conical wheel relative. to said turntable.

16. A feed mechanism for moving a stylus over a phonograph record comprising a shaft, a.-

carriage splined on said shaft, a feed screw, a feed arm pivotallymounted on said carriage and arranged to engage said feed screw and an independent arm carrying the stylus pivotally mounted on said carriage and means pivotally mounted on said carriage operativelyconnecting said feed arm and said stylus arm.

17. A feed mechanism for moving a stylus over a phonograph record comprising a shaft, '1

a carriage splined on said shaft, a feed screw, a

feed arm pivotally mounted on said carriage and a stylus carried by each of said feed mechengaging each of said feed mechanisms with said feed screws and means for simultaneously disengaging the feed mechanisms from the feed screws and restoring said mechanisms to the starting position. v

19. A phonograph mechanism, comprising a plurality of turntables for supporting records, a feed screw and a feed mechanism for each tumtable, a stylus carried by each of said feed mechanisms in engagement with the, records, an arm engaging each of said feed mechanisms with said feed screws, horizontal bars arranged to engage said arms and disengage them from the feed screw and means for simultaneously moving said horizontal bars.

20. A phonograph mechanism, comprising a plurality of turntables for supporting records, a feed screw and a feed mechanism for each tumtable, a stylus carried by each of said feed mechanisms in engagement with the records, horizontal sliding bars arranged to engage said mechanism, a pivoted mounting for said bars and means for moving said bars-on said mounting to engage said mechanism.

21. A feed mechanism for feeding a stylus across a record on a phonograph turntable, comprising a sliding carriage with a feed screw, an arm carrying the stylus pivoted to said carriage to swing horizontally, a spring moving said arm in one direction and means for adjusting the position of said arm against said spring.

22. A feed mechanism for feeding a stylus on a phonograph record comprising a sliding carriage, a feed screw, means connecting said carriage with said feed screw, a magnet controlling said means, an arm carrying a stylus to engage the record mounted on said carriage, a lever operated by the movement of said carriage, a plate pivotally adjusted relative to said lever, said lever and plate operating a circuit controller controlling said magnet in'a predetermined position of said carriage.

23. A phonograph mechanism comprising a plurality of turntables continuously rotating, means for stopping one turntable without stopping the others, a. feed mechanism with a car riage for each turntable arranged to carry the stylus in engagement'with the records on the turntables, electrical means mounted on said carriage controlling the operation of each carriage and means controlled by one carriage in a predetermined position for stopping said carriage and for starting the feed mechanism of another turntable. a

24. A phonograph mechanism comprising a plurality of turntables continuously rotating, means for stopping one turntable without stopping the others, a feed mechanism for each tumtable arranged to carry the stylus in engagement with the records on the turntables, means associated with the turntable mechanism for operating the feed mechanism and electrically controlled means mounted on said carriage for selectively connecting said feed mechanism with said operating means.

25. In a phonograph, the combination, a rotating turntable, a feed mechanism forieedi'ng a stylus across the turntable, and a magnet controlling the movement of said feed mechanism, the circuit of said magnet being controlled by the angular position of said turntable.

26. In a phonograph, the combination, a turntable, a feed mechanism for feeding a stylus across the turntable, a magnet controlling the movement of said feed mechanism, a holding circuit controlling said magnet andmeans controlling said holding circuit by the initial movement of said mechanism. i

27. In a phonograph, the combination, a turntable, a feed mechanism for feeding a stylus across the turntable, and a magnet controlling the movement of said feed mechanism, said magnet having a pick up circuit anda holding circuit, said circuits controlled by said feed mechanism.

28. In a phonograph, the combination, a turntable, a feed mechanism comprising a feed arm and a feed screw for feeding astylus across the turntable, a magnet controlling-the engagement of said feed arm and feed screw and means controlling the circuit of said magnet by the movement of said turntable.

29; In a phonograph, the combination, a turntable with a record thereon, means for driving said turntable, a stylus arm with a stylus are ranged to engage and move over the sound grooves of the record, a magnet controlling said stylus arm to engage and disengage the stylus and the record, and a pick up circuit and a holding circuit energized at difierent times and energizin said magnet whereby repeating operations of the stylus arm are prevented.

30. In a phonograph, the combination, a turntable with a record thereon. means for driving said turntable, ,a stylus arm with a stylus arranged to engage and move over the soundgrooves of the record, a magnet controlling said'stylus arm to engage and disengage the stylus and the record, a pick up circuit and a holding circuit energizing said magnet and said magnet itself controlling said holding circuit, said circuits being controlled by the movement of the stylus arm whereby repeating operations of the stylus arm are prevented. r

31. In a phonograph, the combination, a turntable. a'feed mechanism, a feed arm having a stylus carried by said mechanism across the turntable, a magnet having a pick up circuit and a holding circuit controlling the engagement of said stylus with said record and means controlled by the rotation of said turntable for controlling one of the circuits of said magnet and means controlled by the movement of said feed arm for controlling the other circuit of said magnet.

32. In a phonograph, the combination, a turntable, a feed mechanism, a feed arm engag ng a mounted independently in said mechanism with their pivotal axis in alignment and means connecting said feed arm and stylus arm whereby disengaging said feed arm from said feed screw raises said stylus arm from the turntable.

34. In a phonograph, the combination, a turntable, a feed mechanism moving on a fixed slide comprising a feed screw on one side of said slide,

a feed arm engaging said screw, an independent.

stylus arm on the other side of said slide, and links connecting said feed arm and stylus arm whereby raising said feed arm to disengage itfrom said screw raises said stylus arm from the turntable.

35. In a phonograph, the combination, a plurality of turntables having records thereon, means for continuously rotating said turntables, and means for stopping any turntable without stopping the rotation of the other turntables, a feed mechanism for feeding a stylus across the record on each turntable, a magnet controlling each of said feed mechanisms andmeans operated by the completion of the first record for automatically starting the feed mechanism of the second turntable and for automatically starting the feed mechanism of the third turntable by the second turntable.

36. In a phonograph, the combination, a plurality of turntables having records thereon, means for continuously rotating said turntables, a feed mechanism for feeding a stylus across the record on each turntable, a magnet mounted to move with said feed mechanism controlling each of said feed mechanisms and means operated upon the completion of one record for automatically start-' ing the feed mechanism of the next record and at the same time returning the feed mechanism of the completed record to the starting position.

37. In a phonograph, the combination, a plurality of turntables having records thereon, means for continuously rotating, said turntables. a feed mechanism for feeding a stylus across the record on each turntable, a magnet controlling each, of

said feed mechanisms and an electrically operated stepping device for selectively operating said feed mechanisms one after the other in succession.

38. In a phonograph, the combination, a plurality of turntables having records thereon, means for'continuously rotating said turntables, a feed mechanism for feeding a stylus across the record I on eachturntable, a magnet controlling each of said feed mechanisms, a stepping device for selectively operating said feed mechanisms and means for electrically operating said stepping device.

39. In a phonograph, the combination, a plurality of turntables having records thereon, means for continuously rotating said turntables, a feed mechanism for feeding a stylus across the record on each turntable, a magnet controlling each of said feed mechanisms, a stepping device forselectively operating said feed mechanisms and means controlled by said feed mechanism for electrically operating said stepping device.

the spiral sound grooves of the record, means supporting each stylus head and capable of being moved to disengage the stylus from the record, a magnet for moving each of said supporting means, a holding circuit for energizing each magnet controlled by the magnet itself and means for interrupting said holding circuit for one record when the stylus head on another record has reached a predetermined position.

42. A phonograph mechanism comprising a turntable supporting a record, a stylus head supporting a stylus in engagement with the record, means supporting said stylus head and capable of being moved to disengage the stylus from the record, a magnet controlled by a holding circuit and by a pick up circuit for moving said supporting means and means for closing said holding circuit in one position of the stylus head and for opening said circuit in another position of the stylus head and means for energizing said pick up circuit by said phonograph mechanism.

43. A phonograph mechanism comprising a. turntable supporting a record, a stylus head supporting a stylus in engagement with the record, means supporting said stylus head and capable of being moved to disengage the stylus from the record, a magnet controlled by a holding circuit for. moving said supporting means and means for opening said holding circuit when the stylus has completed its movement over the record to prevent the stylus repeating its movement.

44. In a phonograph, the combination, a plurality of turntables supporting records, means for simultaneously driving said turntables, means for removing any of said turntables from said drive without stopping the other turntables, a stylus arm supporting a stylus for each record, a magnet for each stylus arm controlling its engagement with the record and means controlling said magnets whereby the records on said turntables are automatically played in succession.

45. In a phonograph, the combination, a plurality of turntables supporting records, means for simultaneously driving said turntables, a stylus arm supporting a stylus for each record, a magnet for each stylus arm controlling its engagement with the record and a remotely operated stepping device making a plurality of steps controlling the circuits of said magnets to release one stylus arm for engagement with the record for each step of said device.

46. In a phonograph, the combination, a plurality of turntables supporting records, a stylus arm supporting a stylus for each record, a magnet for each stylus arm mounted to move with said arm controlling its engagement with the record, means for simultaneously driving said turntables, means for removing any of said turntables from the drive without stopping the other turntables,

and remotely located means controlling the circuits of said magnets.

4'7. In a phonograph, the combination, a plurality of turntables supporting records, means for simultaneously driving said turntables, a stylus arm supporting a stylus for each record, a magnet -for each stylus arm controlling its engagement with the record and means controlling the circuits of said magnets by said turntables.

48. In a phonograph, the combination, a plurality of turntables supporting records, means for simultaneously driving said turntables, means for removing any of said turntables from said drive without stopping the other turntables, a stylus arm supporting a stylus to move in engagement with each record, a. magnet for eachstylus arm mounted to move with said stylus arm controlling its engagement with the record and means controlled by the movement of said stylus arm over the record for controlling the circuit of said magnet on another turntable.

49. Ina phonograph, the combination, a plurality of mechanisms each having records thereon and means for playing from the sound grooves of each of said records, an electrically operated device for each of said means for bringing said means into the operative or intothe inoperative condition, a circuit for each device, ,a' stepping mechanism for controlling each of said circuits and electrically operated means independentfof the phonograph mechanism for operating said stepping mechanism.

50. In a phonograph, the combination, a plurality of mechanisms each having records thereon and means for playingfrom the sound grooves of each of said records, an electrically operated device for each of said means for bringing said means into the operative, or into the inoperative condition, a circuit for each device and a rotating switch independent of the phonograph mechanism arranged to close one of said circuits only at a time as it is rotated.

51. In a phonograph mechanism, a constant speed drive shaft, a conical drive wheel on said shaft, a turntable member engaging said wheel, a spring maintaining said member in engagement with said wheel and means for shifting the posi tion of said wheel relative to said member to-vary the drive of the turntable. p I

52. In a phonograph mechanism, a turntable for playing a disc type record, a constant speed drive shaft, a conical drive wheel splined on said shaft, a turntable member frictionally engaging said wheel, a, spring for securing said engagement and means for shifting the position of said wheel on said shaft to vary the speed of the turntable.

53. In a phonograph mechanism, a turntable for playing a disc type record, a constant speed ciated with said guide for shifting the position.

of said wheel on said shaft relative to said member to vary the speed of the turntable. 54. In a phonograph mechanism, a turntable for playing disc type records, a constant speed drive shaft, spring controlled means including a conical drive wheel connecting said turntable with said shaft to drive the turntable and means, operable when the turntable is in operation, for varying the speed of said drive.

. 55. In a-phonograph mechanism, a turntable for playing disc type records, a constant speed drive shaft, a conical drive wheel splined on said shaft, a turntable member frictionally engaging said wheel, a spring for securing said engagement, a pair of guides. means connecting said wheel with said guides and moving on said guides for sliding said cenneeiing means be vary the speed 01 said turntable.

56. In a, phonograph mechanism, 2; mmtebie' ior playing-disc type records, a. constant weed drive shaft, a conical drive wheel splinefi on said shaft, e iurnteble member irieiioneiiy engaging eeeeiee i Q I said wheel am said shaft and means for operating seidi wheei, a spring for securing said engagement,

e, pair of guides, means connecting said. wheel with said guides, and rotary meene eeseeieted with said guides forshiiting the position of said wheel reletifie'to said member to vary the speed of said 5 tumiable. 

